Combined dispensing spout and shaker for cans or boxes



-May 12, 1925. 1,537,408.

F. H. COGSWELL COMBINED DISPENSING SPOUT AND SHAKER FOR CANS- OB BOXES Filed July 26, 1924 Patented May 12, 1925.

FRANK H. COG-SWELL, OF MANISTEEQMICHIGAN.

COMBINED DISPENSING SPOUT AND SHAKER FOR CANS B, BOXES.

Application filed. July as,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK CocsWELL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Manistee, in the county of Manistee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Dispensing Spouts and Shakers for Cans or Boxes, of which the following is'a specification.

This invention relates to a combined dispensing spout and shaker for cans or boxes adapted for containing salt, sugar, spices, or other granular or pulverizedmaterial.

-Grenerally stated, the invention has for its object the provision of-a spout and shaker or sifter of novel construction and combination whereby the contents of the box or can may be dispensed through a single opening in the container so as to flow in a stream into, and

from, the spout, or, to be sifted to permit dispensing in a number of fine streams. Further objects are, first, to provide an improved spout and sifter which, when closed,

will exclude moisture from the interior of the box or can; second, one wherein provision is made for permitting the draining or dropping back into the can or box of suchgranules or particles of material as might otherwise remain in the spout to prevent it from being closed tightly; third, one wherein the contents of the box will be held back, to prevent spilling, when the device is used as a sifter; fourth, to provide a novel spout and Sifter, mounted. for swinging toperniit free pouring, when desired, with adaptability for arranging the sifter so that only fine streams will be dispensed; fifth, to so combine a swinging spout and gate that the latter will be carried by the former and adapt- 40 ed for setting to convert the device into either a pouring spout or a sifter. My improvements necessitate only one opening in the side of the box or can, thereby insuring a stronger package than if the spout and sifter were independent of each other and each required its own opening in, I the container.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully from the disclosure of certain embodirnents thereof hereinafterset forth and which are shown in the accompanying drawings.

I am aware that the principle of the in-' 1924. Serial No. 728,458.

vention may be carried out in other embodiments than those shown and described; therefore, the invention is not to be considered as limited to the details of the embodimentsdisclosed, except where such data-ifs are recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a box or can equipped with one form of the invention, the

spout and sifter being .closed.

Fig. 2 isa part slde elevation, part sectional, vieW,-full lines showing the spout and sifter arranged for. pouring a single stream of the material, dotted lines representing the position of the sifter when the latter is to be used.

tion of the sifter when fine streams of the:

mate-rial are to be dispensed.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, a part of the spout being broken away and the sifter be in located in sifting position; and

*ig. 8 is a detail view of the sifter of Figs. 6 and 7.

The present invention is adapted for use on any box or can from which it is intended to dispense granular or pulverized material such, for instance, as salt, sugar," spices, etc. The can may be of paper or of metal.

The can or box 1 is closed except for a single opening 2 through which the material passes intothe spout 3, either directly in the form of a stream, or indirectly through the sifter 4,. in the form of a number of fine streams so that a sifting action may be obtained, reference being had to Figs; 1 to 5 inclusive.

The opening 2 tapers upwardly from its base to 'its top. At the base of the opening the side wall of the box '1 is formed as a tongue 5 which has a slot 6 through which the hinging tongue 7 of the spout 3 passes and is then bent back against tongue 5 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Whether the box or container 1 be of paper .or of metal, the tongue 5 affords the requisite flexibility to serve as a hinge for the spout 3, permitting the latter to be opened or closed. The spout 3 is of metal and it has lugs 8 which are adapted to contact with the wall of the container 1, as

' shownin Fig. 2, to limit the outward swlnging of the spout. The side walls of the spout 3 have curved upper edges 9 which suitably clear, though adequately fitting, the upper edge or margin fine streams or to shake it out in that form of delivery, the sifter or shaker 4 is disposed as shown by the dotted line position,.-

Fig. 2. When in the latter position, the sifter 4 constitutes a barrier between the in.- terior of the box 1 and the spout but'masmuch as it is provided with a number of small openings or perforations 10, the .ma-

terial flows through these openings and passes into the spout in finely divided streams.

The sifter 4' is of the-same general, upwardly'tapered shape as the spout 3 and it is provided with flanges 11 which fit against the inside surfaces of the side walls of the spout. 1 Being tapered and fitting the spout,

it is not necessary for the shaker or sifter,

- 4 to'be hinged to the tongue 5-, and said shaker is simply contained within the spout but this arrangement enables the sifter or shaker 4 to be disposed as shown by full and dotted lines in Fig. 2 as it is swingingly mounted to move bodily with the spout or -independently, thereof.

en the spout is closed as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the opening 2 is tightly closed and moisture is kept out of the interior of the box 1 and the contents of the latter cannot escape. e l

The shaker 4 extends upwardly .beyond the top of the spout 3 so that it may be. held back when the s out is swung outwardly, or, ack, that is, positioned as desired. The perforations 10 enable the material to drain back into the box 1 from the spout, when the spout is closed, after'being used.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7, 8, the same form of spout '3 is provided except that it has rate. The spout is connected to the box 1 by a hinging tongue 7 connected to a 5, as previously described- The gate or shaker 13 is provided with a finger piece or button 14 for itsmanipu lation,the shank of the finger piece passing through a slot 15 in the spout 3. The shaker 13, like the shaker'4, is mounted to swingbodily with the spout 3 and it is also capable of movement independently thereof. When the sifter or shaker 13 is raised as shown in Fig. 7 and by dotted lines in Fig. 6, the upper end 16 thereof engages the inner faces of the box '1 above the spout, thus holding the spout closed 'and exposing the perforations 12. Consequently, the box '1 can be shaken to dispense the material throu h the perforations 12, without dantongue ger o the spout opening, just as the 'sifter 4 can be heldby the finger when sifting is to take place. In the construction shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, the buttontl4 may be held by the fiinger of the user when the sifting operation is being had. I

When the sifter or shaker 13 is. pressed down, the lower part thereof covers the perforations 12 and at that time the spout is complete so that the contents of the box may be cured in a streamclaim:

- 1. A box or container provided with a movably mounted combined spout and shaker or sifter, wherein the spout and shaker'or sifter are relatively movable, andalso movable as a unit, said spout and shaker or sifter being adapted to be arranged for use as a spout, or, asasifter.

2. A two-part combined spout and shaker or sifter adapted for installation as a unit movable parts adapting it for conversion into a pouring spout ,or into a sifter.

3. A box or, container provided with a pivoted spout adapted to receive. material from the interior'of the box or container, and a movabl mounted gate .for said spout by which sai spout may be converted into a sifting spout or a'pouring spout according to the provision of said gate.

4.. A box or container provided with, a pivoted spout adapted to receive materialv from the interior of the box orv container, and an adjustable gate carried by saidspout and movable-bodily with it, or, for shifting relatively to the spout, to enable the spout to be used for pouring, or, to sift the material.

5. A box or container provided with a swinging, tapered pouring spout, and a tapered gate movable within the spout andadapted, according to its position, to conve'rt the spout into a pouring spout or into a sifting spout.'

6. A box or container having a single opening for the outflow of the material, in

105 on a box or container and having relatively v combination'with a swinging spout adapted to receive' the material passing through said opening, and a controlling gate carried by the spout and mounted for movement in relation to said spout.

' to receive the material passing through said opening, and acontrolling gate located between the spout and the box and container, by which the material may be made to flow in a plurality of streams or in a single stream as it passes through said opening, according to the setting of said controlling gate.

11 testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK H, COGSWELL. 

